Post-pocket



July 30, 1935.

H. T. ANDERSON POST POCKET Filed Jan. 26, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l m A 8 1 4 m JURY 30, 1935. H, ANDERSON 2,009,468

' POST POCKET Filed Jan. 26, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5, wwmcebm Patented July 30, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE POST-POCKET Harry '1'. Anderson, Butler, Pa.

Application January 26, 1933, Serial No. 653,658 8 Claims. (01. 105-391) This invention relates to post or stake pockets, A further object of the invention is the prosuch as 'are used on gondola freight cars into vision of means for maintaining a stake or post which stakes may be put for the purpose of inin spaced relation to the side sheet of a car as creasing the eifective height of the car side Walls, the same is driven home in stake pockets mountand thereby adapt the cars for the hauling of ed on the side sheet. 5

certain freight, such as lumber and other articles Other objects of the invention will, in part, be that require a considerable amount of space in apparent, and will, in part, be obvious from the proportion to their Weight. the following description taken in conjunction The stake pocket embodying this invention is with the accompanying drawings in which: in some respects similar to the stake pocket dis- Figure 1 is aview in vertical section through 10 closed in my United States Letters Patent 1,863,- one side of a gondola car showing two stake 364 granted June 14, 1932. This patent discloses pockets embodying one form of the invention, a collapsible pocket, which when a post or stake mounted in vertical alinement on the car side is removed therefrom, automatically falls sheet with a post or stake extending thereagainst the side sheet of the car, which position through; it occupies until manually reset to post receiving Fig. 1a is an enlarged top plan view of the or operative position. Whenhanging along the stake or post pockets illustrated in Fig. 1 as seen side sheet of the car, the pocket is out of the looking in the direction of the arrows on line Iaway and not likely, if ever, to be injured or broken Ia of Fig. 1, one of the bearings for the post re- 9 when the car is being loaded with freight of a ceiving member being shown in section; character or quantity not requiring the use of Fig. 2 is a view in section of the post pocket posts or stakes. taken on line IIII of Fig. 1a.

An object of this invention is the provision of Fig. 3 is a View in side elevation of the post a collapsible post pocket adapted to fall autoor stake receiving member of the pocket shown 35 matically against the side sheet of the car when in Figs. 1 and 2; the stake is removed, in the same manner as the Fig. 4 is a View showing the shape of the side pocket disclosed in the above mentioned patent, bars of the post receiving member taken on line but which in some respects, shall be simpler in IV-IV of Figs. la, 2 and 3; construction and more easily manufactured than Fig. 5 is a rear elevational view of the post rethe pockets of said patent. ceiving member as seen looking in the direction of 30 In the patent above mentioned, the post or the arrows on line V-V of Fig. 3; stake receiving member is hinged on the side Fig. 6 is a top plan view of a strut embodied in sheet of the car and the strut which holds they the post pocket assembly illustrated in Figs. 1, 1a, same in operative position is hinged to said memand 2;

ber. Thus when the stake or post is removed, Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing stake 35 the post receiving member and strut fall against pockets embodying a modified form of the inventhe side of. the car as an articulated unit. tion, and adapted for use on cars having side An object of this invention is to make the plates that project inwardly from the car side strut and post receiving member as separate units sheet or parts, mount each part in a bearing on the side Fig. 7a is an enlarged top plan view of the post 40' sheet of the car, and provide for such coaction pockets of Fig. '7."as seen looking in the direction between them that the strut will hold the post reof the arrows on line VIIAVIIA of Fig. 7 ceiving member in operative relation to receive Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view in vertical section and hold a stake, and that both parts will autoof the side sheet of a gondola car showing a side matically disengage and fall or swing against the elevational view of a post or stake pocket, embody- 45 side sheet upon removal of the post or stake. ing another form of the invention, the pocket The stake pocket of the patent is open on the being in operative position to receive a post or side adjacent the side sheet of the car, so that stake. when a stake or post is driven into the pocket, Fig. 9 is a view in section of the post receiving the stake bears directly against the side sheet and member taken on line IX--IX of Fig. 7a; and 50 renders the same liable to damage. Fig. 10 is a view in section of the side bars of An object of this invention is the provision of the post receiving member taken on lines XX a stake or post pocket that shall maintain the of Figs. 7a and 9. stake in spaced relation to the side sheet of the Throughout the drawings and the specifiation,

car. like reference characters indicate like parts. 55'

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, one side of a gondola type freight car is illustrated on which stake pockets embodying one form of the invention are mounted in vertical alinement to receive a post or stake P. In regard to the portion of the car illustrated, 2 designates the car side sheet, 3 the floor, the bottom side sill or plate and 5 the top side plate. The top side plate extends outwardly from the car side sheet so that the stake or post P may be positioned relatively close thereto. The pockets are designed to be manually placed in operative position and to automatically fall against the side sheet upon removal of the post or stake. Also, as will be apparent later herein; the post pockets are so constructed that the posts or stakes will not touch the side sheet even during the time that the stakes are being driven into the same.

In Figs. la and 2, enlarged views of the post pocket l are illustrated. Pockets I may be mounted either on the inside or the outside of the car side sheet 21 For convenience, it may be assumed that pockets 1 are located on the inside of the car.

Each pocket I comprises a post or stake receiving member 6 and a strut 1, each'independently journaled in bearings A and B, respectively, formed in supporting straps 8 secured to the side sheet 2', two straps 8 being provided for each pocket as shown in Fig. 1.

Post receiving member 6 may be made of steel or alloy steel either cast or forged and comprises front'andrear bars 9 and IE! connected by side bars H, and trunnions 12 formed as extensions at the ends of the rear bar [0. Thus the side and cross bars form an opening 0 to accommodate a post or stake P;

The rear bar IE! of each pocket being adjacent the side sheet, it will be apparent that the postor stake will be spaced from the side sheet. Since two pockets are used with each stake, and since these pockets are placed in vertical alinement, the stakes will not be. driven against the side sheet while being driven into place. The rear bar 10 of these pockets therefore acts as a spacer and a bearing for the posts or stakes thereby relieving theside sheets of stresses and strains for which they are neither designed nor intended to endure.

In order that the post receiving member may be of relatively light weight and possess great strength and rigidity, it is preferred that the side bars'be given the shape in transverse sectionindicated by Fig. 4, the front and rear barsthe shape shown in Fig. 2, and the trunnions the shapeillustrated in Figs; 1a, 3 and 5.

The side bars are shaped with inner and outer vertical flanges l3 and I4 connected by'a horizontal web l5. bars may be made" to extend higher above the webs [5 than the outer flanges l4, (see Fig. 4). The front bar may be formed with an upwardly extending rib" or. flange IS the ends or which merge with the outer ends of flanges 13.-

The inner and'oute'r portions i1 and E8 of the transmits-i2 may be given a somewhat H-shape' in section and these portions may be separated by a circular flange l9. The trunnion flanges t9 contact with bearings A of straps 8.

The rear bar I0 is substantially oval in transverse section, the lower rear surface 2"! of which is substantially concentric with the circular flanges Hi. This surface is tangent, or substantially so, to'the' side sheet and bears against the The inner flanges E3 of the-side,

same for substantially the entire distance between the bearing straps 8.

The upper portion 22 of the rear surface of the rear bar is spaced from the side sheet when the post receiving member 6 is in post receiving position (see Figs. la and 2), but acts as a stop to limit the amount by which the same may turn in the direction of arrow 23 when a stake is be ing removed as will be made apparent later herein.

The under side of the front cross bar may be formed with a groove 24 of somewhat U-shape to receive the forward end of strut 1 and hold member 5 in operative position, that is, in position to receive and hold a stake or post.

Strut I may be formed from round rod of steel or iron bent to the shape illustrated in Fig. 6, or it may be made of cast steel or iron. The strut includes trunnions 25, and a front cross bar 25 connected by divergin portions 27.

The trunnions of strut. l are journaled in bearings B of straps. 8 so that the strut. is free to. turn therein, and when swung. to the position.

shown in Fig. 2, the front. cross bar 2-5 thereof will register with groove. 24 of post receiving member 6'.

In operation, the post receiving member is swung upwardly to a position such that, when the strut is also swung. upwardly, the cross bar oss bar 9 of post receiving member 5. Mem- L-er 8 is then lowered so that the strutcrossba-r will nest in groove 24.. When. two vertically alined pockets have been. placed in operative position as describedlpost' or stake 1? maybe driven through. openings 0 thereof as. indicated in he direction of arrow 2-3 until the upper portionsv 22 of the rear cross bars strike the side sheet preventing further. turning thereof. The post receiving members are substantially horizontal when this occurs, but when in such position, the

struts are disengaged automatically from grooves 24' and swing downagainst the side sheet of thecar to the position indicatedbybroken lines in Fig. 2. The moment the post or stake is removed from members 6, these members swing down against the side sheet as indicatedin broken lines in Fig. 2..

Thus it is apparent that post or stake pockets may beplaced manually in operative or stakereceiving. position and that the. pockets will automatically collapse and the component parts thereof swing down against the side sheet of the carto inoperative position by the act of removing the stake or post therefrom.

The post pocket described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2 is applicable to cars on which the side plates, at the top of the side sheet extend outwardly from the sides of the car. The post pocket shown in Figs '7, 7a and 8 is designed for use on cars provided with side plates that extend inwardly from the sides of the car and would interfere with the proper functioning of the pockets illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

In Figs. 7, 7a and 8, 2 designates the side sheet of the strut clears the underside of the front iii) of a gondola car having a side plate 29 secured to the top thereof and extending laterally inward a substantial distance from the side on'which the post pockets 3e are mounted. For this reason, the post receiving member is made longer than the post receiving member 6 of the pocket I so that the stakes will clear the side plate when placed in the pocket. Pockets 38 each comprises a post receiving member Si and a strut I both of which are hinged or journaled independently of each other bearings A and B of straps 8 secured to the side sheet.

Member 35 may be made either as aforging or a casting, and includes front and rear cross bars 32 and 33, side bars 34 and trunnions 35 formed, in effect, as extensions of the rear bar 33. The front and side bars may be made somewhat H-shape in section so as to give strength and rigidity to the post receiving member and still maintain the weight thereof relatively low. The rear cross member may be of somewhat T-shape with the lower rear side thereof formed as an arc of a circle so that such portion will lie tangent to the side sheet as the post receiving member is swung to post receiving position or to inoperative position. The trunnions are also made somewhat H-shape in section as may be apparent by inspection of Fig. 8, with the inner and outer portions thereof separated by a circular rib or flange 35 which at all times has full contact with the bearings A of straps 8. The portions of the trunnions on either side of these flanges which are circular and of the same curvature as the ribs also provide a bearing surface for the trunnions in the bearings A.

In order that struts may have operative engagement with post receiving'members 3!, an intermediate cross bar 35 is formed at about the middle of the post receiving member and directly below the innermost edge of the side plate 29. This cross bar is provided with an abutment or recess 3? into which cross bar of the strut may be placed when the post receiving member is to be held in post receiving position as indicated in Figs. 7 and 8.

The cross bar 36 forms also the rear side of the post receiving opening 0' through which the post extends, the post being indicated by dot and dash lines in Fig. 8 and in full lines in Fig. '7.

The rear portion of the post receiving member may be formed with a, web 39 having an aperture 48 to reduce the weight of the post receiving member and to strengthen and rigidify the rear portion of the post receiving member. Also, the rear bar 33 and the trunnions of post receiving member 3! provide a continuous bearing across the side sheet from one bearing strap 8 to the other thereby minimizing the stress of the pocket on the side sheet.

In'bperation, assuming that the post pockets are in the inoperative position indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 8, post receiving members 3! are swung upwardly until approximately in horizontal position, the limiting position as fixed by portions 4! of the rear cross bar. Portions 4| of the rear cross bars strike against or abut the side sheet 2 when the post receiving members are in horizontal position. When in such position, the struts may be swung up to that position in which the cross bars 26 thereof may register in the grooves 31 of the post receiving members when the same are lowered to the full line position indicated in Fig. 8. The post or stake may now be inserted through the post receiving openings 0' and driven to the position indicated in Fig. '7.

While the'stakes are being driven into place, the rear cross bars 35 of the pockets keep them in upright position and in spaced relation to the side sheet thereby protecting the same against injury. Also after the stakes have been driven home, the rear cross bars hold the stakes securely within the apertures O of the pockets so that any bending strains imposed on the stakes will not be directly transmitted from the stakes to the side sheet.

Thus in both forms of pockets the rear cross bars act as spacers to separate the stakes or posts from the side sheets and as retainers for holding the stakes securely and positively within the pockets.

When a car has been unloaded and it is desired to remove the stakes or posts, the posts are merely driven upwardly. By driving the posts upwardly, the post receiving members swing upwardly to their limiting positions as fixed by portions 4! of the rear cross bars, in which position the struts become disengaged from the grooves 37 and swing downwardly against the side sheet of the car as indicated by the broken line position in Fig. 8.

The moment the post is removed from the post receiving members 3% these members also swing downwardly to the broken line position indicated in this figure.

Thus, it will be apparent that the post receiving members indicated in Figs. 7, 7a and 3 function in identically the same manner as the post receiving members illustrated in Figs. 1, 1a and 2 and differ therefrom only in that the post receiving aperture O or opening member 6! extends far enough away from the side sheet of the car to clear any obstruction, such as side plates 25, which would otherwise interfere with the insertion of t -e post or stakes into the post receiving members.

While various modifications and changes may be made in the post receiving pockets herein disclosed, it will be apparent and it is to be understood by those skilled in this art that such changes may be made without departing either from the spirit or the scope of the invention. It is desired, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed on the invention as are imposed by the prior art and the appended claims;

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: i

l. A post pocket for gondola freight cars com-- prising a post-receiving member pivotally mounted on the side or" the car and adapted to fric" tionally grip the post, said receiving member being normally free to swing downwardly against the car side, and a supporting member disposed below the post-receiving member and pivotally mounted on the side of the car adapted when swung to operative position to releasably engage the post receiving member and hold it in operative position to receivea post, said post receiving member being adapted to automatically release the supporting member to inc erative position by the act of removing a post therefrom, the post receiving member falling to inoperative position automatically upon removal of said post.

2. A post pocket for gondola freight cars comprising a post receiving member adapted to frictionally grip a post and a supporting member therefor, both adapted to be pivotally mounted on the side of a car and being normally free to swing downwardly towards the same to inoperative position, there being an abutment on the post receiving member adapted to be releasably engagcd by the supporting member when both members are swung upwardly to operative position, the post receiving member being dis posed to automatically release the supporting member, by the act of removing a post there-- from, to inoperative position, and upon removing the post, the receiving member also returning automatically to its normal or inoperative position.

' 3. A post pocket for freight cars comprising a post receiving member adapted to be pivotally mounted on the side of a car, and to frictionally grip the sides of the post, and a supporting member adapted to be pivotally mounted on the side of the car and arranged to releasably engage the post receiving member at a point remote from its mounting and hold the same in operative position to receive a post, said members being arranged to be automatically disengaged upon the removal of the post and to fall downwardly towards the side of the car to inoperative position.

4. A post pocket for freight cars comprising a post receiving member adapted to irictionally grip the post and a supporting member therefor both provided with trunnions whereby each may be pivotally supported in mountings on the side of the car, the post receiving member having an abutment on the under side thereof at a point remote from its mountings adapted to be engaged by the supporting member when both members are swung to operative or post receiving position, said members being automatically disengaged from each other upon the removal of a post and adapted to swing by gravity towards the side of the car to inoperative position.

5. A collapsible post pocket comprising a post receiving member having integrally formed front and rear cross bars, side bars and trunnions formed as extensions of the rear bar, said bars forming an opening through which a post or stake may be passed and the trunnions being adapted to pivotally support said member in bearings on the side of the car, and the rear bar being adapted to space the post from the car side and to form a bearing for the side of the post adjacent the car side, and a strut pivotally mounted on the side of the car for releasably engaging and supporting the post receiving member in post receiving position, the post receiving member and strut when disengaged from each other swinging downwardly by gravity to inoperative position.

6. A post pocket for freight cars comprising a post receiving member pivotally mounted on the side of the car and being normally free to swing towards the side of the car to inoperative position, a cross member adjacent the side of the car and extending across one side of the post receiving space of said post receiving member adapted to maintain the post in spaced relation to the side of the car, and means for holding said post receiving member in post receiving position, the post receiving member frictionally gripping the post so that when the post is pulled upwardly and out of the same said holding means is automatically disengaged from the post receiving member thereby allowing it to swing to inoperative position upon removal of the post therefrom.

'7. A post pocket for gondola freight cars comprising a post-receiving member pivotally mounted on the side of the car and being normally free to swing downwardly against the same, there being a rigid member adjacent the side of the car and extending across the rear side of the post receiving member adapted to space the post from the side of the car and form a bearing for one' side of the post, and a supporting member disposed below the post-receiving member and pivotally mounted on the side of the car adapted when swung to operative position to engage the post receiving member and hold it in operative position to receive a post, said post receiving memher when moved upwardly a predetermined disstance releasing the supporting member so that it may swing to inoperative position.

8. A collapsible post pocket comprising a post receiving member havingintegrally formed front and rear cross bars, side bars and trunnions formed as extensions of the rear bar, said bars forming an opening through which a post or stake may be passed and the trunnions being adapted to pivotally support said member in bearings on the side of the car, and the rear bar being adapted to space the post from the car side and to form a bearing for the side of the post adjacent the car side, the trunnions and rear bar providing a continuous bearing against the car side, and a strut adapted to be pivotally mounted on the side of the car for releasably engaging and supporting the post receiving member in operative position, the post receiving member and strut when released from each other both swinging downwardly by gravity to inoperative position.

HARRY T. ANDERSON. 

